Information about the availability of BTV-3 vaccines for animal keepers and vets.
About the vaccines
Three BTV-3 vaccines have been permitted for use. These have been granted a marketing authorisation by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). You can only use these vaccines if your use is compliant with a valid licence or declaration.
For more information on the BTV-3 vaccines including permits and licences visit Bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) vaccination (on gov.uk).
Where you can use a BTV-3 vaccine
You can use these vaccines in England, Scotland and Wales, but you must comply with the legal conditions of the general licence.
Important information for vets
In addition to your responsibility to inform the relevant authorities of any adverse effects that you notice, the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) for Wales has published an advisory note for vets. This asks for your cooperation to keep records of the bluetongue vaccine doses that you order, supply and prescribe.
Vets should inform us of all BTV-3 vaccines they prescribe within 7 days of the date prescribed using the reporting the prescription of a BTV-3 vaccine form.
The CVO for Wales has requested this record keeping because this is the first time the power to permit an unauthorised vaccine has been used.
Speak to your vet
Animal keepers should discuss the merits of vaccination for your animals and business with your private vet.
Work with your vet to both:
- determine if BTV-3 vaccination is right for your animals
- decide the right time to vaccinate
You can access more information and resources at Ruminant Health & Welfare. This is part of a ‘battle bluetongue’ campaign which is running across industry.
Keep a record of your vaccinations
Your vet must prescribe the vaccine, but you, the animal keeper, can administer the vaccine to your animals. You are reminded to use safe practice.
When you use a BTV-3 vaccination you must:
- keep a record of every animal you vaccinate – the information you need to record is on the general licence.
- keep these records for at least 5 years
- provide details including the individual animal IDs and vaccine you use within 48 hours of vaccinating
Moving vaccinated animals
As Wales is a Bluetongue free area, animals vaccinated in Wales are free to move around Great Britain. However, vaccinated animals within a bluetongue zone (for example, restricted zone or temporary control zone) are subject to the same movement controls as unvaccinated animals.
Cattle that have completed treatment with Boehringer 'Bultavo-3' vaccine and have no clinical symptoms can move from a bluetongue Zone to Wales without a pre-movement test. Completed treatment means both doses of the vaccine were administered, and 21 days elapsed since the second dose.